JRS Singapore

The Jesuits in Singapore have been involved with refugees since the 1980s when Singapore was one of the transit centres for the Vietnamese boat people.
 

In late 1999, when a humanitarian crisis erupted in East Timor, the Catholic Students Society (CSS) of the National University of Singapore approached the Singapore Jesuits for help to send a container filled with food to East Timor in Dec 1999 to the Canossian Sisters of Charity in Dili. This was the start of a more sustained and continuous effort to help refugees and internally displaced people.

The Jesuits in Singapore have been involved with refugees               

 since the 1980s when Singapore was one of the transit centres

                 for the Vietnamese boat people

Subsequently, a small group of Catholic volunteers calling themselves the East Timorese Response Group was formed. Despite the limited funds, this group of very enthusiastic and committed volunteers managed to send an average of one container a month of daily necessities to East Timor.

The donated goods of rice, medicine, and milk powder were gratefully received and distributed by the Salesians and Canossians Catholic religious orders.

The East Timorese Response Group eventually evolved to become what is known today as JRS Singapore.

Since its formation, JRS Singapore has been working closely to with JRS South Asia, JRS Indonesia, JRS Asia Pacific and JRS Liberia to support the refugees and internally displaced persons in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Liberia, India and Sri Lanka.

JRS Singapore falls under the umbrella of JRS Asia Pacific, which has its base in Bangkok, and the spiritual guidance of the Jesuits in Singapore.

JRS Singapore is one of the social outreach ministries of the Singapore Catholic Archdiocese. JRS Singapore's activities are fully endorsed by the Archbishop of Singapore